BrightKidz is a Social Enterprise That Sells High Visibility Designs
Tiana Reid — November 24, 2010 — Social Good
References: brightkidz & clearlyso
BrightKidz is a social enterprise that sells high visibility kid’s clothing. The business also has a Bright Basics budget range and a BrightSportz range, making it a staple in the United Kingdom for businesses, individuals, schools and local authorities alike.
The BrightKidz idea began inadvertently in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom in November 2003, through a Walking Bus organization which encouraged children to walk to primary school wearing colorful, fluorescent and reflective jackets. It was in 2004 that BrightKidz became a social enterprise. All of BrightKidz profits are placed back into its social aspects and there are no directors who receive dividends. Instead, all staff are paid a salary, as part of a worker’s co-operative. Some of the BrightKidz principles include “family-friendly employment conditions” and “local and co-operative suppliers preferred.”
Don’t think your child will wear potentially unattractive fluorescent clothing—even if it’s for their own safety? BrightKidz takes that into account by making the design process collaborative. Many of the styles were designed with the help of a school design club to add exciting patterns, tape and trims. BrightKidz also sells numerous kid-friendly accessories like fluorescent snapbands, clip-on compasses, bookmarks, alarm clocks, rucksacks, teddy mascots, whistles, pencils and bright highlighter pens.
BrightKidz have won numerous awards including the 2006 Impact Road Safety Award by the Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction partnership, the 2006 HSBC Start Up Stars Awards and was a shortlisted finalist for the 2007 Triodos/Eve magazine Women in Ethical Business Awards.
BrightKids doesn’t simply provide high visibility clothing for children, but BrightKidz’s entire mandate promotes road safety, sustainable transportation and healthy lifestyles for both kids and their parents.
Contact Information:
BrightKidz Website
Unit 16, The Business Exchange
Rockingham Road
Kettering
Northants
NN16 8JX
Telephone: (+44)(0)1536 526461
Fax: (+44) 01604 533434
The BrightKidz idea began inadvertently in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom in November 2003, through a Walking Bus organization which encouraged children to walk to primary school wearing colorful, fluorescent and reflective jackets. It was in 2004 that BrightKidz became a social enterprise. All of BrightKidz profits are placed back into its social aspects and there are no directors who receive dividends. Instead, all staff are paid a salary, as part of a worker’s co-operative. Some of the BrightKidz principles include “family-friendly employment conditions” and “local and co-operative suppliers preferred.”
Don’t think your child will wear potentially unattractive fluorescent clothing—even if it’s for their own safety? BrightKidz takes that into account by making the design process collaborative. Many of the styles were designed with the help of a school design club to add exciting patterns, tape and trims. BrightKidz also sells numerous kid-friendly accessories like fluorescent snapbands, clip-on compasses, bookmarks, alarm clocks, rucksacks, teddy mascots, whistles, pencils and bright highlighter pens.
BrightKidz have won numerous awards including the 2006 Impact Road Safety Award by the Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction partnership, the 2006 HSBC Start Up Stars Awards and was a shortlisted finalist for the 2007 Triodos/Eve magazine Women in Ethical Business Awards.
BrightKids doesn’t simply provide high visibility clothing for children, but BrightKidz’s entire mandate promotes road safety, sustainable transportation and healthy lifestyles for both kids and their parents.
Contact Information:
BrightKidz Website
Unit 16, The Business Exchange
Rockingham Road
Kettering
Northants
NN16 8JX
Telephone: (+44)(0)1536 526461
Fax: (+44) 01604 533434
Trend Themes
1. High Visibility Clothing - Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Develop new materials or technologies to make high visibility clothing even more effective and stylish.
2. Collaborative Design Process - Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Create platforms or tools that enable collaborative design processes for clothing, allowing customers to actively participate in the creation of their own garments.
3. Ethical Business Practices - Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Develop new business models or technologies that integrate ethical practices, such as worker cooperatives and preferential sourcing, into various industries.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Retail - Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Utilize technology to create innovative and sustainable fashion retail concepts, incorporating elements of high visibility clothing and collaborative design processes.
2. Safety Equipment - Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Develop advanced safety equipment and accessories that prioritize both effectiveness and aesthetics, catering to the growing demand for high visibility products.
3. Children's Products - Opportunity for disruptive innovation: Create new and innovative children's products that prioritize safety, sustainability, and active participation of children in the design process.
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